The Donald Trump administration’s move to kick Turkey out of the F-35 fighter jet program for purchasing a Russian air defense system could have implications for Middle East nations that buy Chinese technology, according to a Pentagon statement.

As the US stock market sagged this week after China threatened to counter fresh US tariffs on Beijing’s exports, the Defense Department has continued a spate of warnings to American allies about buying foreign weapons.

“The United States remains committed to improving the capacity of its partners to fight terrorism, deter regional spoilers and promote stability in the Middle East,” said Mick Mulroy, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. “But — as seen in the department’s decision to cancel Turkey’s F-35 program — we are also prepared to make hard decisions to protect US technology.” 

Defense Secretary Mark Esper is fresh off of a tour of Asia-Pacific countries amid raising worries about China’s increasing global push for military access and basing. The Pentagon is seeking to round out the case to allies that tying themselves to Beijing economically could hamper US defense ties.